Carpet-stretcher



(No Model.)

P. W. BERRIDGE.

CARPET STRBTGHER.

No. 556,454. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

Invezziar ANDREW BYGRANAM. PHOTD'LITMDVWASNINGTON, [LC

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP \V. BERRIDGE, OF STURGIS, MICHIGAN.

CARPET-STRETCHER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,454, dated March 17, 1896.

Application filed October 28, 1895. Serial No. 567,126. (No model.)

To all whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILIP W. BERRIDGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Sturgis, in the county of St. Joseph, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Carpet-Stretchers and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in carpet-stretchers, and my object is to pro duce a cheap, simple, and efficient device of the kind that will not get out of order and that can be used by any member of the household.

The invention will first be'described in connection with the accompanying drawings, and then particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal central section showing the side in elevation. Fig. lis a transverse section. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of stock, showing slide without groove.

' Referring to the drawings, A is a handlestock, provided with a pistol-butt a in order to give a good hold for the hand of the operator. The under side of the handle-stock is preferably provided with a longitudinal groove a, in which is placed a slide B, comprising a strip of metal having a central loop 1), into which the finger of the operator may be inserted, the outer end of said slide having a spring-arm Z), pivotally attached to the said slide and provided with a notch at its outer end, as shown at This slide is movable back and forth in the groove a" and is held therein by a staple 0 near one end of the groove and by a socket C, which fits over the front end of the handlestock A, this socket being formed from one piece of sheet metal and bent into shape, the said sheet metal being integral with a sheetmetal fork c, which has its front ends 0 serrated 01' toothed to engage the carpet. It will be observed that when the slide B is forward the notched end I) of the spring-arm is approximately on a line with the tWo serrated or toothed ends 0 of the fork 0, while when the slide is drawn back the said not-ch b is back behind the fork.

of the socket and into the stock A, thereby holding the box or receptacle D and the socket O to the stock.

The operation of my device may be briefly described as follows: The slide is pushed forward, a tack from the tack-receptacle is inserted therein, and the serrated or toothed ends of the fork are pushed into the carpet to be stretched. By now pushing the stock A the carpet is forced toward the base of the wall and held, while a blow from the hammer on the head of the tack in the notch 12 serves to force down the spring-arm b and let the point of the tack pass through the carpet and into the wood of the floor. As soon as the tack is thus started into the floor, the slide B is drawn backward by the operator, whose finger is normally kept in the loop b, whereby the spring-arm is freed from the tack, when the latter may be driven down solidly into the floor to hold the carpet, while at the same time the carpet is retained in its position un til the tack is completely driven by means of the arms of the fork c.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is v 1. In a carpet-stretcher, the combination, with a stock and a fork carried by the stock and having toothed ends, of a slide movable in the stock and a spring-arm pivoted to the end of the slide and adapted to be moved lat erally, whereby it may be brought between the two ends of the fork, or moved over either fork, substantially as described.

2. In a carpet-stretcher, the combination, with a stock having a pistol-butt and a groove in its under side, of a slide movable in said groove and having a loop for the insertion of the finger a spring-arm secured to the front end of the slide and having a notch arranged ICO to hold a tack, and a socket secured to the end of the stock and provided with a fork having toothed ends, substantially as and for the purpose described.

3. In a carpet-stretcher, the combination, with a stock having a groove in its under side, of a slide movable in said groove, a staple over one end of the slide, a sheet-metal socket over the front end of the stock and over the slide, said socket having a fork, a spring-arm provided with a notch and secured to the front end of the slide and a tack-receptacle 011 the top of the socket, and a securing device passing through the bottom of the receptacle, through the socket and into the stock, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

PHILIP \V. BERRIDGE. Vitnesses:

J. J. W'ALT, H. L. ANTHONY. 

